Six Sigma: To be or not to be. That is the question.

Calling it Six Sigma may not be the best approach for a non-Six Sigma shop. It's happened a few times now.

I explain the mindset to people all the time. Six Sigma always carries with it the insinuation that it is purely Statistics. This is not valid. Statistical tools sure play a big role in accomplishing the tasks in Analysis and Measure phases of either the DMAIC or DMADV approach. But, this is not the essence of Six Sigma. Of course, I say that in the IT context. To me, when one says Six Sigma approach, it is defining a problem by using measurable criteria, and solving the problem by moving that metric defined by the problem. This is completely different from living in the pure world of Statistics.

Hence, it is absolutely valid to use the Six Sigma approach without referring to it as such, especially to an untrained audience that assumes that we Black Belts are using high-falluting terminology to alienate argument.